Frequently asked questions

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Applicants must be located in one of the following counties:

Bartholomew · Benton · Boone · Brown · Carroll · Clay · Clinton · Decatur · Delaware · Fayette · Fountain ·  Greene · Hamilton · Hancock · Hendricks · Henry · Howard · Jasper · Johnson · Lawrence · Madison · Marion · Monroe · Montgomery · Morgan · Newton · Owen · Parke · Pulaski · Putnam · Randolph · Rush · Shelby · Starke · Sullivan · Tippecanoe · Tipton · Vermillon · Vigo · Warren ·Wayne · White

Applicants will be screened to ensure they are meet all eligibility requirements.

FULL REQUIREMENTS

The Torch Awards is open to all for-profit businesses, 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(6) non-profit organizations of all sizes located within BBB Central Indiana’s service area. BBB Accreditation is not required, however the eligibility standards below must be met:

• Business or organization is located within BBB central Indiana's 42 county service area.
• For profit and 501(c)(6) applicants must have a “B” rating with BBB;
  
• 501(c)(3) non-profit applicants must complete the Charitable Standards Evaluation process and meet all BBB Standards for Charity Accountability;
• Organizations must have been in business for three years;
• All financial obligations must be met;
• Applicants are not eligible if they have received the Torch Award in the past five years;
• Government agencies are not eligible to submit an application.

Entries are evaluated by an independent, voluntary panel of judges comprised of business and community leaders. Written submissions, including examples, stories and documents, should provide a robust and accurate depiction of the organization's focus on character, culture, customers and community. Supporting documents and attachments can range from handbooks, internal documentation, or photos from events.

Remember, the judges do not know the intricacies of your organization, so your written submission – including examples, stories, and documents – should provide a robust and accurate depiction of your organization’s focus on character, culture, customers and community.

Lay the foundation
Provide descriptive answers to all application prompts to ensure the best submission possible.

Support your claims
Include compelling stories such as pictures, social media posts, campaigns,  handbooks or any other internal documents.

Share received compliments
Provide customer reviews, certifications, awards or other important achievements.

Anyone can submit an application whether it's by a customer, employee, owner, etc. 

To be considered for a Torch Award, please submit a detailed and completed application.  

Please provide contact information for yourself and the business or non-profit that is applying. Additionally, to better help the judges assess each application thoroughly, please provide a detailed response to the following:

• A brief description of the business and/or person that is applying.
  
  
• A summary prepared on why the business or person is deserving of the award above the rest. To do so, provide examples of their hard work displayed such as customer testimony, social media posts, reviews and/or a recommendation letter. The more information provided on the business and/or person applicant, the better the judges will be able to assess.
  
  Note: After each prompt, there’s an opportunity upload additional documents for your convenience.
  
  
• Have references prepared. Including references is optional, but at the end of the form there’s an option to upload up to four contacts.

Submit nominations by Thursday, March 20, 2025.

Yes! If an application was started, you may return to it, just be sure to save the form.

Yes, of course! Everyone is encouraged to see the encouraging tales of past Torch Award winners.

Yes, once the judges reach a final decision, those who applied will be notified. 

To be recognized as a recipient of a BBB Torch Award for Ethics is a huge distinction and is the biggest honor BBB bestows on a business. When you go through the Torch Awards application process, you complete a very conscientious review of the true character and ethics of your organization.

The application process is rewarding in itself, as applicants now have a great marketing piece for their business.

In addition, your business will be recognized at the BBB Torch Awards for Ethics, in a news release shared with local media partners, various print ads, on the BBB Torch Awards for Ethics website, and on BBB’s social media sites.

BBB will produce a video vignette of your organization that can be shared on your business’s digital platforms as well as your BBB Business Profile. You are able to utilize the BBB Torch Awards for Ethics recipient logo on your digital and print marketing collateral and your website for one calendar year, and with your recipient year included in subsequent years. The unique Torch Award trophy your business will receive can be proudly displayed at your office to remind employees, customers, and guests of your commitment to ethics.

If you have general questions related to the Torch Awards, you can reach out to:
Mandy Block (mblock@indybbb.org or 317-597-8421).

For more information about sponsorships, contact:
Cathy Armour (carmour@indybbb.org or 317-488-2201)